~ The Great Russian Nutcracker is the Quintessential Christmas Experience!

Inaugural Russian Art Exhibit Brings Classic Tales to Canvas

For years Moscow Ballet has brought to life on stage classic ballet and holiday tales, the Great Russian Nutcracker,Swan Lake,Sleeping Beauty and more. And with strokes of a paint brush, individual scenes from these stories are coming to life now, too. In anticipation of its 18th annual North American tour, Moscow Ballet has hand-selected a group of Russia’s rising contemporary artists to capture images from these beloved ballets on canvas.

Tatyana Kalin, Alexandra Nedzvetskaya, Diana Taran and Eugene Ivanov, chosen with assistance from a representative of the St. Petersburg (Repin) Academy of Art in Russia, have created original paintings in honor of the 100th anniversary of the life and legacy of Marius Petipa, known as the “Father of Russian Ballet,” whose choreography brought The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty (among others) from storybooks to the Russian stage in the late 1800s.

The new artwork was premiered on Sept. 4 at VGOGH Gallery in Kingston, PA. Guests at the reception were the first to view the original paintings depicting different characters and scenes from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. These artistically acclaimed story ballets, all of which have been featured over the past 18 years among Moscow Ballet’s performances, served as the inspiration for the four rising Russian artists. The works celebrate vibrant Russian art, and further enhance the brilliance and beauty of the Russian classical ballets on which they are based.

One-hundred limited edition giclée prints of the original paintings are available to the public as part of Moscow Ballet’s Platinum Print and Ticket Package—this package also includes tickets for the “best seats in the house,” preferred parking and early seating at the venue, the chance to meet one of our Russian soloist dancers, and a Moscow Ballet “Founding Member” benefits card.

For more information and to purchase tickets for Moscow Ballet’s upcoming Great Russian Nutcracker tour, go to www.nutcracker.com or call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.